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3 Ingredient Butter Beef is one of the easiest dinners you’ll ever make! With just three simple ingredients, the slow cooker transforms the beef into a rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth roast packed with flavor.

Top down shot of cooked slow cooker 3 ingredient butter beef.

The Ultimate Lazy-Day Dinner

  • Three ingredients, big payoff: Itโ€™s hard to believe something this simple can taste this good. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work.
  • Packed with savory flavor:ย The beef becomes incredibly tender as it cooks, soaking up every bit of the delicious oniony seasoning.
  • One recipe, countless dinners: Spoon it over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles, pile it onto sandwiches, or use the leftovers for easy meals all week long.

Ingredients for 3 Ingredient Butter Beef

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.
  • Beef Options:ย I like to use a chuck roast cut into large bite sized pieces, but stew meat works just as well and saves a little prep time.
  • Control the Salt:ย For a less salty version, use unsalted butter and a low sodium onion soup mix.
  • Homemade Soup Mix: Use about 3 tablespoons of your favorite homemade onion soup mix in place of the packet.
  • Garlic Butter Twist: Add 1โ€“2 tablespoons of fresh minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of minced parsley for an easy garlic butter beef variation.

How to Make 3 Ingredient Butter Beef

This butter beef is one of those easy slow cooker dinners that practically makes itself! It is tender, savory, and can be served in so many ways. We love it overย mashed potatoesย orย rice, with egg noodles or roasted vegetables, or tucked into sandwiches and tacos.

  1. Prep: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, then addย the beef.
  2. Cook: Top withย the butterย andย onion soup mix. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender and easily shreds.

Alyssa’s Pro Tip

For extra flavor:ย Sear the beef in a hot skillet for a few minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. It adds a nice crust and deeper taste.

Must Have Tools For This Recipe

  • Slow Cooker: Cooks the chuck roast low and slow until it is tender, juicy, and easy to shred.

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3 Ingredient Butter Beef

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My 3 ingredient butter beef is slow cooked until fall apart tender with rich butter and savory onion soup mix.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

  • 1 5-8 quart slow cooker

Ingredients 

  • 3 pounds chuck roast cut into 1×2-inch pieces or stew meat
  • ยฝ cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
  • 1 (1-ounce) packet onion soup mix about 3 tablespoons

Instructions 

  • Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, then add 3 pounds chuck roast cut into 1×2-inch pieces.
  • Top the beef with ยฝ cup unsalted butter and 1 (1-ounce) packet onion soup mix. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender and easily shreds.

Notes

Storage Instructions
  • Fridge: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
  • Reheat: Microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.ย 
  • Make Ahead: You may add the ingredients to the slow cooker the night before cooking it, store it in the fridge, then cook as directed the next day.
  • Freezer Meal: Add the beef, sliced butter, and onion soup mix to a large freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To cook from frozen, dump the contents of the bag into the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours, or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. Alternatively, you may let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook as directed in the recipe card.

Nutrition

Calories: 558kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 44gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 197mgSodium: 565mgPotassium: 792mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 503IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, entree, main, Main Course, main dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
Plate of mashed potatoes topped with 3 ingredient butter beef.

Make it a Meal!

If you try this 3 Ingredient Butter Beef, youโ€™ll want it for easy dinners all week. Here are some serving ideas to turn it into a full meal!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer, experienced recipe-developer and American Culinary Federation certified. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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